“Nemesis” goes to Washington

Cuban-born artist Geandy Pavón has taken his art-protest “Nemesis” to the nation’s capital. The performance consists of digitally projecting onto the façade of buildings with Cuban government offices the image of Cuban political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who recently succumbed to a hunger strike. In Greek mythology, “nemesis” represents divine justice ─a persecutory memory. With this creation, Pavón “imposes the face of the victim upon the assassin, using light as an analogy of truth, reason, and justice.”

Last Thursday May 20th, on the anniversary of Cuba’s independence from Spain, Pavón took his act to the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, D.C. The stately building, located at 2630 16th street, N.W., houses Cuba’s diplomatic mission to the United States, officially represented by the Swiss Embassy. See short video. The performance was dedicated to Guillermo Fariñas, a former political prisoner and member of Cuba’s peaceful opposition currently on hunger strike demanding the release of Cuban political prisoners. The artist first unveiled his art-protest last March 19th in New York city on the façade of the Cuban Mission to the United Nations. On April 8th, he projected it onto the Cuban Consulate in Barcelona. Orlando Zapata died on February 23rd 2010 after an 85-day hunger strike in protest of appalling prison conditions. Incarcerated since 2003 for nonviolent opposition activities, the Afro-Cuban plumber demanded conditions comparable to those Fidel Castro had during his 18-month confinement under the Batista dictatorship for leading a 1953 armed attack against a military barracks. Mr. Zapata is the 12th political prisoner known to have died of a hunger strike during the course of the Castro regime. Geandy Pavón is one of the motors behind an internet letter campaign for the release of Cuba’s political prisoners that has attracted worldwide support, including from many international celebrities. Born in Cuba in 1974, he lives in New Jersey since his 1996 exile from Cuba. His father was a political prisoner there for 18 years. Pavón graduated from Cuba’s National School of Fine Arts in Havana and exhibited in numerous venues in Cuba. He was part of the independent group “La Campana,” formed in 1998 to produce dissident art critical of the censorship and lack of freedom permeating Cuban society. Since his exile, he has held many solo and group exhibitions in New York City, Miami, Mexico, and other locations. His artistic talent and production have been recognized in the media and art publications and he has lectured at galleries and universities. His work can be found in private and public collections throughout Mexico, Cuba, and the U.S. (See geandypavon.com.) See link for letter campaign on behalf of Cuba’s political prisoners: For a summary of deaths of Cuban political prisoners from hunger strike:

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